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Thursday, August 20Thursday, August 20
NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies abandoned a $30 million mission to rescue the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory on Wednesday, after persistent attitude control issues prevented the Link spacecraft from capturing and boosting the aging telescope.
The Link spacecraft, built by Katalyst and launched July 3, was designed to rendezvous with Swift, grab it with three robotic arms, and push it into a higher orbit. But the mission faltered in late July when Link entered an uncontrollable spin, with two of its three reaction wheels failing alongside issues with cold gas thrusters. Despite weeks of recovery efforts, Katalyst and NASA concluded the spacecraft could not complete its primary objective.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement that the mission, though unsuccessful, was still worthwhile. “This is not the outcome we were working toward, but it does not change why this mission was worth attempting,” Isaacman said. “The team moved with extraordinary speed to give Swift a chance to carry out more science while advancing capabilities America will need for satellite servicing in the future.”
Swift, launched in 2004 to study gamma-ray bursts and other cosmic phenomena, has no propulsion system of its own. Increased solar activity accelerated its orbital decay, and NASA had hoped to extend its life by raising its orbit from roughly 214 miles to 600 kilometers. The observatory’s science instruments were turned off earlier this year to slow its descent.
Katalyst will continue operating Link to conduct proximity operations near Swift, aiming to demonstrate navigation and rendezvous techniques for future missions. “We will continue working to extract technical and operational value from the spacecraft,” the company said in a statement.
Swift is now expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and burn up later this year, likely after October. NASA said it will prioritize alternative methods to respond rapidly to cosmic events in the interim, using existing missions to fill the gap left by Swift’s impending loss.
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3 further sources not geolocated
NASA calls off mission to rescue Swift gamma-ray observatory Without a rescue, NASAs Swift Observatory is expected to reenter the atmosphere later this year.
ars technica · about 2 hours ago
NASA blaast reddingsmissie voor ruimtetelescoop Swift af: verbrandt wellicht later dit jaar in de dampkring
de morgen · about 2 hours ago
La NASA annonce léchec de sa périlleuse mission de sauvetage du télescope scientifique Swift Un robot spatial devait rejoindre le télescope vieillissant, sy agripper puis relever son orbite afin de prolonger sa mission scientifique. Faute dune intervention réussie, Swift poursuivra sa lente descente avant de se désintégrer dans latmosphère terrestre.
le monde · about 3 hours ago
Kudarcba fulladt a NASA vakmerő űrteleszkópmentő missziója Javíthatatlanul bepörgött az űrben a Swift űrteleszkóp javítására felbocsátott eszköz. Akkora volt a baj, hogy végül leállították az egész mentőakciót.
hvg.hu · about 4 hours ago
Misiunea de salvare a telescopului spațial SWIFT al NASA a eșuat: instrumentul riscă să se prăbușească pe Terra spre finalul anului O misiune de salvare a bătrânului observator spaţial SWIFT, aparţinând NASA, a fost anulată miercuri, după ce nava spaţială care fusese trimisă pentru a ridica orbita telescopului a suferit probleme tehnice iremediabile pe orbită, a anunţat compania care a construit nava de salvare, Katalyst Space, transmite Reuters.
digi24 · about 4 hours ago
NASA satellite rescue mission fails, swift telescope set to fall to earth NASA said on Wednesday a $30 million mission to save its Swift space telescope had failed after the rescue spacecraft could not be controlled. The unprecedented effort aimed to use a robot to move Swift into a higher orbit. The satellite is now expected to re-enter Earths atmosphere and disintegrate later this year.
france24 · about 4 hours ago
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spacenews · about 7 hours ago
NASA, Katalyst call off SWIFT rescue mission over issues with rescue craft in space reut.rs/4xVzI5z
bluesky_Reuters · about 7 hours ago
NASA renunță la misiunea de salvare a telescopului SWIFT, aflat în curs de prăbușire de pe orbită O misiune de salvare a bătrânului observator spațial SWIFT, aparținând NASA, a fost anulată miercuri, după ce nava spațială care fusese trimisă pentru a ridica orbita telescopului a suferit probleme tehnice iremediabile pe orbită, a anunțat compania care a construit nava de salvare, Katalyst Space, transmite Reuters. „În urma monitorizării și evaluării continue a navei …
hotnews.ro · about 7 hours ago
Rescue mission is called off for NASAs aging Swift space telescope
news.yahoo.com · about 8 hours ago
NASA aborts attempt to save dying space telescope A rendering of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. Image: NASANASA is calling off an attempt to save a space observatory falling out of orbit, dooming it to a fiery death in Earths atmosphere.Why it matters: The Swift Boost Mission was an ambitious effort to rescue the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and demonstrate the concept of grabbing onto and moving a satellite.Driving the news: NASA canceled the attempt after weeks of attitude control issues plagued LINK, a privately built spacecraft designed to rendezvous with Swift, grab on and push it to a higher, more stable orbit.Swift had fallen into an unstable orbit earlier than expected and has no propulsion system of its own to raise its orbit.Yes, but: LINK will still try to meet up with Swift and conduct "proximity operations" to learn as much as possible about the concept of satellite relocation.What theyre saying: "This is not the outcome we were working toward, but it does not change why this mission was worth attempting," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement."The team moved with extraordinary speed to give Swift a chance to carry out more science while advancing capabilities America will need for satellite servicing in the future.""We are going to learn everything we can from LINKs rendezvous attempt and put those lessons to work on the missions that follow."Whats next: Swift is expected to burn up in Earths atmosphere later this year.NASA said in a statement: "As part of the agencys previous planning for Swifts end of life, NASA will continue to prioritize finding new options to react rapidly to cosmic events, using current missions to help fill the gap in the meantime."
axios · about 8 hours ago
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japantoday · about 8 hours ago
Katalyst Space and NASA abandon plans for Swift reboost Katalyst Space and NASA have called off plans to use the companys Link spacecraft to raise the orbit of the agencys Swift gamma-ray observatory, citing attitude-control problems with the spacecraft. The post Katalyst Space and NASA abandon plans for Swift reboost appeared first on SpaceNews.
spacenews · about 9 hours ago